Join the rebellion and turn VW away from the dark side

VW has joined the Dark Side. Join the rebellion to bring the company back

It’s not every day you’re called to step up in defence of
your planet – but today is one of those days. A few moments ago we launched a
new global campaign to change Volkswagen by turning them away from the Dark Side,
and we need your help.

Despite the green image it likes to portray, VW is at the
heart of a group of companies lobbying against new laws which we need to cut
CO2 emissions, reduce our oil use and protect places like the Arctic from
climate change.

Only a rebellion can stop them – a mass of people from all
across the globe –demanding that they change. We need you to be part of that
rebellion.

On the streets across Europe
our activists are busy showing
Volkswagen for what it really is: a regressive company using its influence to
prevent us getting the laws we need to protect our planet and boost our
economy.

And VW's political lobbying has dire consequences for
fragile environments like the Arctic, where sea ice is already melting fasting
than predicted. Our best chance of stopping climate change and saving the
Arctic is to reduce the CO2 emissions that heat up our planet and threaten
everything from biodiversity to agriculture.

We know how dangerous the situation is getting. Greenpeace
activists have only just returned from the Arctic, where they were putting
their bodies in the way of the new oil rush, where companies like Cairn Energy
are drilling in the deep seas under the newly-melted ice.

But VW doesn’t just spend money on lobbyists.

Volkswagen has been running an ad campaign showing a cute
kid in a Darth Vader costume turning on one of their cars. It's been a big hit
but for a company that’s essentially threatening the future of all of our
children, we thought it was ripe for a remake.

The symbolism of Star Wars is far better suited to the kind
of destruction Volkswagen’s policies threaten to wreak on our planet, than to a
fluffy advert to sell more of their cars.

Which – incidentally – are not as efficient as you might
think. For every ‘greener’ vehicle VW sells, it shifts around 15 others which
emit much more C02. Volkswagen adds a huge price mark-up for its greener
vehicles - way above the cost of the technology – as it tries to cash in on
your green conscience.

Right now, politicians across Europe are debating whether to
raise our target for CO2 cuts from 20 to 30 per cent (based on 1990 levels) by
2020. It’s such a necessary increase that many people and organisations - from
the UK government to Google, from Ikea to Unilever - agree that we should do
it.

But not Volkswagen - and it gets worse.

Along with spending millions on groups lobbying against the
30 per cent target, VW is also opposing new fuel efficiency targets. These
would cut CO2 emissions, save drivers money and reduce our dependence on oil.

It’s that dependence that drives oil drillers to the Arctic,
where companies routinely use giant water cannons to break up icebergs in the
way of their operations.

But all is not lost. We feel the good in Volkswagen. They
have the engineers and the technology to make some of the most efficient
vehicles on Earth.

But their bosses have been seduced by the Dark Side and are employing
henchmen to lobby against the strong emissions cuts that we need. The time has
come when we have no choice but to raise a rebellion to confront them.

@european - VW is lobbying against critical EU laws - one on emissions reduction targets and another on vehicle efficiency - which could help cut our CO2 emissions. No doubt Chrysler does have its own influence in the European parliament, but as a EU company with supposedly green intentions, we think VW shouldn't be trying to hobble such climate change legislation.

By jamie - 28 June 2011 at 3:29pm

2 people agree

@Natalie - I'm sure you have read the report (http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/sites/files/gpuk/vw_report.pdf), so you won't need me to tell you that no one's saying the car industry is the biggest polluter. But with VW trying to scupper EU climate laws (which will cover all emissions, not just transport) and deploying its green technologies in only a small proportion of its fleet, that makes it a valid target for this campaign. VW likes its green image - "We aim to be the most eco-friendly automaker in the world!" they say - but maybe it should walk the walk and all that.

@Daithesci - Greenpeace has three active ships. Last year, VW produced 7.2 million cars, with its most efficient technologies in only 6 per cent of its fleet. What's your point exactly?

By jamie - 29 June 2011 at 10:38am

About Jamie

I'm a forests campaigner working mainly on Indonesia. My personal mumblings can be found @shrinkydinky.